The line of great German pianists has not been extinguished, and the proof is this disc of Bach transcriptions by
Bernd Glemser. Performing arrangements by Busoni,
Hess,
Kempff, and
Rachmaninov,
Glemser eschews mere virtuosity for profound musicality, the trademark of great German pianists from
Schnabel through
Kempff. This is not to say that
Glemser's playing is not virtuosic. Anyone who gets through Busoni's arrangement of the Chaconne from the D minor Partita, who can accurately execute its delicate repeated notes, heroic double octaves and monumental sonorities, is clearly a first class virtuoso. But like his German predecessors,
Glemser focuses on the depths in every work here. The singing tone of his legato in
Kempff's transcription of the Siciliano in G minor, the graceful lyricism of his counterpoint in Busoni's arrangement of Wächet auf, and the joyful ease of his tempo rubato in
Rachmaninov's transcription of the Gavotte from the E major Partita all sound utterly natural and ineffably moving in
Glemser's hands. Though some might find his approach occasionally overly rhetorical citing as an example his massive ritardando at the Chaconne's close, listeners who have admired the great German pianists of the past will most likely be able to look past
Glemser's rhetoric to his echt Deutsch heart. A co-production with the Bayerischer Rundfunk, Oehms Classics' digital sound is clear and vivid, but also very evocative.